Toth Family

At 6 months old, Rhean Toth was diagnosed with a Posterior Fossa Ependymoma—an aggressively fast-growing form of brain cancer located in his brainstem. This tumor disrupted his ability to drain fluid from his brain as it began to wrap around his brainstem. It started pinching nerves that control everything from his heartbeat to his breathing and has left him mostly paralyzed for the majority of his life. In the 10 months since his diagnosis, baby Rhean has endured five rounds of the most aggressive chemotherapy available, six weeks of radiation to his brain, and 13 brain surgeries. Multiple times, Rhean's family has been told, “There is nothing more we can do.” And every time, he finds the strength to push through. As Rhean’s treatments have taken him from coast to coast, his family has been separated for months at a time, with Rhean and his mother living in the hospital for his treatments while his dad remained at home, continuing to work and care for Rhean’s two older brothers, ages 5 and 3. The entire family misses each other desperately. Due to radiation damage after an emergency brain surgery, Rhean developed a dangerous and life-threatening bacterial infection in his brain. He remains in the pediatric ICU, actively fighting meningitis. If the infection is successfully cleared, baby Rhean is scheduled for his 14th brain surgery. Through every challenge, and against insurmountable odds, Rhean has proven time and time again that his strength is unmatched. He is fighting hard to come home to his family and truly is Stronger Than the Storm.